Welcome to my blog! A little bit of nature, a lot of people, a few models and musicians, some intriguing abstracts, and lots of everyday stuff we all see around us. Lots of motion, lots of great light, a little blur, a little music, a little tilt-shift, and that iconic moment when everything comes together perfectly. Welcome to my seriously beautiful life...
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About Me
I'm a photographer and I live in Southern California.
It's been a good couple of weeks! Late last month Lukas Rossi released a holiday CD single with one of my images on the cover, and this week a CD single from Marty Casey surfaced, also with one of my images on the cover.
It's only available as a complimentary gift, if you buy a piece from his Silver Elements Collection, and there are limited quantities, so if you want one, you might want to act soon. It's a beautiful song - one of my all-time favorites - I loop it over and over!
My big goal, career-wise, is CD covers and magazine features. I remember when I first started seriously studying photography, I wanted to shoot features for People Magazine. I loved their 50 Most Beautiful People issue, and how they did beauty shots for each of the celebrities chosen - but they weren't standard beauty shots, they told stories! There was an artistic element that I loved. Then later I gravitated toward Vanity Fair. But my real love was always Rolling Stone. THAT is what I wanted to do!
And then CD covers? That's an even bigger high for someone with a fine art background! I love doing the commercial stuff - especially when it's edgy, and beautiful, and fun. But when I get to combine that kind of commercial work, with what my artistic impulses lead me to, and there are no limits? Simply put, that's what I was meant to do.
So here's to more CD covers and magazine features in 2009 - I'm ready!
Lukas Rossi just released a new Christmas EP - available for digital download on Amazon.com - and the cover features one of my images. The EP features two new songs, War Is Over and Revolving Doors, and you can listen to a preview of both on the site, and then download for $1.98.
Lukas has amazing eyes - they tell stories - and the image they chose really shows them off. We got a lot of really good stuff in that session, but this particular image is just special. It was a good choice and I'm glad it's getting a wider audience!
Edited on 12/6/2008 to add that it's now available on iTunes as well! Just search for Lukas Rossi, and you'll find it!
I've never posted a video before on my blog, but this one is pretty special. It's one of my favorite artists - Ryan Star - and it was just released today!
Visually the video is beautiful, but more importantly the song is amazing. I've been looping Right Now over and over, ever since I first heard it. And it's Ryan Star - what more could you ask for?
Think wet and sandy and sexy. Pretty compelling, isn't it?
That was my assignment last month when I shot Marty Casey for his Silver Elements Collection. There are sessions that go so perfectly you feel like the stars are aligned and the day is charmed - this was one of those sessions. Every set up blew me away.
Honestly, I get to see my vision turn into beautiful reality all the time - that's not new - that's my job! But rarely is it quite so beautiful...
Most of the images debuted on silverelementscollection.com two weeks ago, but not everything we shot was about the jewelry. Sometimes when you're in a beautiful setting, with a beautiful subject, and it's a charmed day, you get other kinds of images. And I've been really eager to show them off, so here they are! Some of the best of the best of the jewelry shots and some other stuff - call it the director's cut! My picks for best images of the day... http://www.cherylspelts.com/commercial/2008-10-marty-casey/
I heard the word "sandgasm" recently used to describe series of portraits of guys covered in sand. Well I gotta say that Marty Casey wet and sandy blows just about anyone else off the beach, so I'm co-opting the word - 'cause it's perfect!
SEE Magazine - a weekly printed magazine in Edmonton, Ontario, Canada - recently did an article on Lukas Rossi and his new band, Stars Down, and it featured one of my images. And it's currently also available online! You have to click on the image to make it bigger, but it looks good!
Forced to define “rock star,” he says it’s someone who affects people with their music, writes honest songs, and reaches deep within to express something true to them and their fans. All of which Rossi is attempting to do with his new project, Stars Down.
I like that definition! And I love seeing my work in print...
A little over two weeks ago I got to do a fun session with Marty Casey for his Silver Elements Collection. It's a line of really beautiful jewelry that he designed with Marla Zegart - and the running theme through the whole collection is the natural environment. The first piece, launched a couple of months ago was named after his big song from Rock Star: INXS, "Trees." And the newer pieces are part of the Stars collection, also named after a new song, "I See Stars” - and come with a CD single of "I See Stars.” It's a GREAT song - definitely one of my all-time favorites!
We shot in downtown La Jolla and right on the beach in Pacific Beach, under the Crystal Pier. So beautiful jewelry, incredible setting, and a hot rock star - perfect assignment for me!
I'm sure some of the images from this session will end up in my online portfolio at some point in the future - it's arguably some of the best work of my entire career - I'm really proud of it! But for now, the only place to see it is in Silver Elements Collection's Online Catalog - so go look! And buy something! Every purchase helps to plant a tree in conjunction with American Forests “Global Releaf” Ecosystem Restoration Projects. So you not only get a beautiful piece of jewelry you'll be able to wear forever, but you're also helping the environment!
Last week I got to do a quick photo shoot with Chad Stewart of L.A. Guns, in downtown Hollywood. Chad has also played with Stimulator, Faster Pussycat, Motochrist, and The Gilby Clarke Band. You can check him out at http://www.myspace.com/chadwick_stewart
Can you ever have too much Marty Casey? I think not! The image above was shot in San Juan Capistrano last month, and as of today it's one of the images rotating through on the front page of martycasey.com.
There are a few more of my images rotating through too. More, more, more on those later...
Edited to Add: As of October 21st, the image above is also the main image on Marty Casey's MySpace Site - and the redesign is stunning! Kudos to his design team! http://www.myspace.com/martycasey
I posted a little tease last week, but here's more form my session with Lukas Rossi and Stars Down for RBL. We shot it in late June on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles - so if you know the area, you may recognize some of the locations...
I love it when people send me fun stuff! This just came into my mailbox, and it's super cool - and not just because the ad features one of my images!
The twisted "Trees" illustration is beyond cool - loved it since I first saw it - and it's a perfect fit with silver. I LOVE this necklace! And it's for a good cause as well - the world needs more trees.
And while we're on the subject of Marty Casey, tonight is the very first show with his new band, LA Guns in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They'll be in Los Angeles at the Key Club and in Hermosa Beach at Saint Rocke in August, but if you live in other parts of the United States or Canada or Puerto Rico or Peru or Venezuela or Chile or Argentina or Uruguay, then check out the tour dates on his site.
About Me
It's been a good couple of weeks! Late last month Lukas Rossi released a holiday CD single with one of my images on the cover, and this week a CD single from Marty Casey surfaced, also with one of my images on the cover.
I love it when people send me fun stuff! This just came into my mailbox, and it's super cool - and not just because the ad features one of my images! 
